Quiz: Howstuffworks

Can We Guess If You Belong in the North or the South Based on Your Manners?

Raj Chander

Image: Jose Luis Pelaez Inc / DigitalVision / Getty Images

About This Quiz

One of the biggest American cliches is the distinction between people who come from the North and those who hail from the South. Even before the U.S. Civil War, one of the most critical conflicts in human history, pitting the North directly against the South in battle, people from the North and South were different from one another.

In the American South, open plains and fertile soil provided plenty of space for farms to spring up in the 18th and 19th centuries. On the other hand, Northerners often specialized in merchant businesses or other specialized crafts, like blacksmithing. Southerners are said to listen to country and folk music, while most Northerners prefer rock, hip-hop and R&B sounds.

Arguably the main difference between the North and South is their pace of life. To really know the difference, it's best to spend some time in cities in both regions. Northerners are more likely to pack their days with meetings and get-togethers, while people in the South like to take it easy, savoring every moment like a delicious bite of pie.

But at the end of the day, people from the North and South are still looking for the same things: health, wealth and strong family ties. They just go about seeking these things in different ways. Get through the questions in this quiz, and we'll tell you if your social characteristics are more in line with the North or the South.

How do you respond when someone says something nice about you?

Quickly nod

Thank them verbally

Smile and thank them verbally

Give them a hug

Who should you hold the door for?

I don't really worry about holding doors; most people can operate them just fine.

The elderly and females if they are far away — everyone if they are close

Anyone if they are close enough; otherwise I just keep it moving

Everyone, no matter how close to the door they are

How many meals per day should a person eat?

As many as possible!

Minimum of two

Three square meals a day is ideal.

However many I can fit in around work

What is your idea of a relaxing weekend evening?

Happy hour and then heading out with friends

Reading a good book on the porch

Going out for dinner with family and/or close friends

Going for a hike in a park

What does your dream job involve?

An even mix of physical strength and intelligence

Being outside

Growing things on the land

Making a lot of money

Food is a big part of regional culture. Which of these is your favorite meal for breakfast?

Scrambled eggs and cheese

Sausage and waffles

Grits and bacon

Breakfast sandwich

Which of these famous TV characters do you look up to most?

Bobby Axelrod

Raylan Givens

Walter White

Dan Conner

What's the proper action to take before eating a meal?

Pray with others at the table

Just start eating

Take a moment to be thankful for the food, then eat

Bow my head and pray to myself silently

What's the best way to invite guests to a party?

Sending an evite

Calling each person directly

Texting or calling everyone individually

Mailing a printed invitation

Which of these phrases are you most likely to use when ending a question?

"Right?"

"Y'know?"

"Yup?"

"You reckon?"

How do you greet an old friend?

"Hi!"

"Hey!"

"What's up?"

"Howdy!"

What do you do when you disagree with someone in conversation?

Interrupt them to let them know about it

Just nod politely

Wait until they are done speaking, then say that I respectfully disagree

Acknowledge their position and say I never thought about it that way

How would you let someone know that they have something in their teeth?

Pull them aside to let them know in private

Pantomime flossing

Just tell them directly

Advise them to check a mirror

Someone invites you over to their house for dinner. What do you bring?

A casserole

A bottle of wine

A roast

A side dish

How would you describe the intensity of your religious beliefs?

I'm not that religious.

Faith is important to me.

I'm religious, but not overly zealous about it.

I'm religious, but private about it.

How do you begin asking someone for assistance with something?

Telling them directly what the problem is

Begging their pardon

Saying, "Excuse me"

Apologizing at the beginning

Someone at work is acting rude. How do you handle it?

Give it right back to them

Be extra nice to them

Ignore it at first, then bring it up if it continues to be a problem

Brush it off and act normally

How long does it take you to RSVP to an invitation?

24 hours maximum

No more than a few days

A week or two

Three or four days

How much should you spend on a wedding gift?

$100

Whatever they spent on yours

$50

$75

What phrase do you use to describe your thoughts?

"I reckon"

"I believe"

"I s'pose"

"I think"

Would you describe yourself as punctual?

For important things, yes; otherwise it's 50/50

Absolutely

I'm about average in that department.

For the most part

You made plans with friends, but something came up and you have to cancel. How do you break the news?

Texting them

Just not showing up and texting them the next day

Calling them

Letting them know as early as possible

The people around you are gossiping about someone you don't know. How do you handle it?

Try to change the subject politely

Just nod and add in reactionary comments

I smile and ignore it.

Share a similar story about someone I know

Are you a big fan of wearing hats?

Yes, especially in spring and summer

I usually only need one when working.

Not really, unless I'm at a sporting event

Sometimes

How do you say no to someone without hurting their feelings?

I just tell them directly. If their feelings are hurt, it's on them.

Mixing in as many compliments as possible

Apologizing

Attempting to make it up to them

You're with a group, walking toward a table to eat. What's your first move?

Just choose a seat and sit down

Pull the chair out for the person next to me

Gesture to allow others to choose seats first

Pull a chair out for the most elderly person

How often do you talk to your parents?

A few times per week

Once or twice a week

Almost every day

Whenever I remember to call

What do you do after finishing a big meal?

Move on to whatever else I have to do

Relax for a few minutes, then start cleaning up

Sit still for as long as possible

Start cleaning the kitchen

You are on a first date, and the check comes. What happens next?

I'd go dutch.

I'd ask how they wanted to split it but offer to pay.

I'd defer to them.

I would insist on paying.

You've been invited to a formal event in the summertime, outdoors. What will you wear?

A polo and khakis/skirt

The same thing I'd wear to a similar event indoors

Short-sleeve dress shirt and nice shorts

Nice jeans and a dress shirt

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